Automobile rear signal



I Br 01 W A. DAVIS.

AU TOMOBI LE REAR SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1920.

Patented Jan. 3, 1 922.-

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N INVEIV TOR 126M? fi/YVIJ- WITNESSES ATTORNEYS A. DAVIS.

AUTOMOBILE REAR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-13.1920.

- Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE.

ARTHUR DAVIS, 03 RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMOBILE REAR SIGNAL.

Messrs;

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Dav s, a citizen ofthe United States, and aresident of Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Automobile Rear Signal, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description. Thisinvention relatesto automobile rear signals and has for an object to provide'a-n improvedconstruction wherein proper signals will be at all timesprovided andconnected to the front part of the automobile in such a way that thedriver may shift the signals to indicate different conditions at anytime. i p Another object of the invention is to provide a signal for therear of automobiles and operating mechanism therefor which is operableindependently of the automobile mechanism-but co-acts therewith forindicating the turning to the right or left of the automobile. I i Astill further object of the invention is to provide a device which isoperable from the front of the automobile, but which is seen from therear, wherein both day and night signals are used and operated by thesame mechanism. 7 In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a .fragmentary side view of an automobile disclosing anembodiment of i the invention as applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the front and rearconnections of certain parts of the signal device. 7

-Figure 3 is a diagram showing part of the mechanical operating membersat the front of the automobile and illustrating the electricalconnections used in connection with the signal lights.

Figure 4 is a perspective view on an-enlarged scale of the signal boxarranged at the rear of the automobile.

Figure 5 is a sectional viewthrough Figure 4 on line 5 5.

Figure 6 isa rear view of the box shown in Figure 4 1 Figure 7 is atransverse sectional view through Figure 6 online 77.

Figure 8 is a rear view on a reducedscale of the box shown in Figure 4:,one of the signal arms being shown in an outer position. Figure 9 is aview simllar to Figure 8,

but showing the opposite signal arm an outer position,

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented J an. 3, 1922.

Application filed January 13,1920. Serial No. 351,219. I r I Figure 10is a'view similar to Figure 8 except the central or stop arm is in itsoper is provided with slldeways 6 and 7 (Figure l 2) in which a' slidinghand or pointer S is positioned, said sliding hand or pointer bebox- 5and arranged to slide beyond the ends of the box as'shown in Figures 8and 9, pro v viding right and left indicating members. A plvotallymounted stop arm 9 is arranged ing of substantially the full length ofthe on the box 5 and positioned to move to a vertical position, shown inFigure 10, when the automobile is brought to a stop and back to ahorizontal position out of the way, as shown in Figure 2, when the brakehas been released. In order to move the arm 9 a bell crank lever 10 isprovided connected to an extension 9 on arm 9 through the use of a link11. A pull rod 12 is pivotally connected to one arm of the bell cranklever and slidingly connected tothe brake pedal 2. This slidingconnection is preferably in the way of an elongated opening 13 throughwhich a pin 14. projects whereby the brake lever 2 may be moved for ashort distance before the rod 12 is moved. The slot 13 is, how- I Yever, sufficiently short and the parts are properly proportioned tocause arm 9 to move to a vertical position when the brake has been fullyapplied. In order to slide the 'member 8 a link 15 is connectedtherewith q a suitable bracket connected with the body When the lever 19is pulled to the rear the left end of the arm 8 of the automobile.

will belmoved outwardly as shown in Figure 9, and when the lever ispushed forward to a vertical position the right end will be moved out asshown in Figure 8, thus indicating a right and left turning. It will benoted that the stop arm 9 is operated automatically when the brake pedal1s operated,

while the right and left signal'arms are operated by'a special lever 19.

These arms are ample durii'ig the day time for indicatinglthe proposedaction of; the driver, but at night these arms cannot be readily seen sothat a signal arrangement is provided as indicated particularly inFigures 3 to 7- inclusive.- The box 5 is divided into.

compartments 21, 22 and 23 by the partition walls 24 and 25, andineachcompar'tment 1s provided-the respective lamps 26, 27 and 28. Therear of the box or casing 5 is cut out so as to provide arrows 29 and30and a centralround opening 81 In order to show these special cut outopenings plates of glass 32, 33-a11d'84 are provided'baclr of theopenings, said glass'plates being of any desired color, as for instanceyellow, though'ir" desired they could be made some other color,especially the central glass33 might be made red.'

lowever, it is desirable to make the colors something beside red inorder to produce a 7 light which can be distinguishable fromfthe usualred tail light. It will be,=or" course, noted that when any of the lamps26, 2701 28 are lighted the corresponding arrow will be disclosed by aproper illumination therea ot-so as to indicate turning to theright,lett, or stopping. In order that these lamps may be lighted at theproper time and without any appreciable trouble to the driver, an arrangement ol circuits is provided as shown in Figure 3. Ordinary cut outswitches 85 and 40 are provided for a" free movement for applying thebrakes and a contact for the central light'provided; In order to providecurrent for the lamps'26 and 28 a source of current 39 is provided,which is connected to the lever 19, a suitable switch lO beinginterposed in the connection.

The return wires 41 and 4-2 from the lamps 26 and 28 are connected tothe contacts 43 and 44. respectively so as to be-engaged at diilerenttimes by the lever 19, which when so engaged completes the circuit ofthe particular lamp. This'contact surface may be resilient or rigid ifdesired. Lever 19 is 0perated in the day time exactly asit 1s operatedin the night and the signal arm or slide 8 may be operated both day andnight, but the lamps 26 and 28 will be only lighted in the night as theswitch 40 will normally be kept open during the day.

.lVha-t I claim is:

1. A rear signal for automobiles comprising covering member at therear,a pair of guideways mounted on. said covering memher, a slidingplate arrangedin said guide ways formed. to act as a double pointer, aswinging arm connected with said 'guideways, said slide plate and saidarm being normally laid by said covering 'me'mber, means connecting saidswinging arm with the brake pedal of the automobile so that when thebrake pedalhas been applied the arm will be moved to an exposed positionfor indicating stopping oi'i'the automobile, a pivotally mounted leverarranged at the front;

of the automobile adjacent the brake pedal, and means-connecting saidlever with; said sliding member for shifting the same so that eitherendwill project beyondthecovering memberand indicate turning to theright or left according to the movement of the plate.

2. A rearsignal for automobiles comprising a covering member, a slidewaymounted onsaid covering member, a sliding plate arranged. in saidslideway, a link connected with said'plate, abell crank-le'verconnectedwith said link, a rod for moving said bell crank lever, and an actuatinglever at the front of the automobile for shifting the position -oi -saidrod. whereby said'plate is moved to the right. and left so as to projectbeyond said covering member and indicate the position of the plate.

3. A signal device for automobiles, comprising a covering member,visualsignal member slidably mounted upon said covera turning to theright and left according to ing member and provided with end portionsextending in opposite directions and serving,

as pointers tor indicating right and left d i-' rections, saidvisualsignalmember having a predeterminednormal position in which it is hiddenby said covering member, a swinging arm for indicatingstoppage ot thevehicle, mechanism connecting the swinging arm with the brake pedal ofthe automobile so that the operation of the brake pedal will actuatesaidswinging arm, and a manually operated lever connected? with said visualsignal. member for thepurposeot sliding the same in order. to rendervisible at the willof the operator, eithcr'of said end portions of'said'visual member ''serving as POIDtGlS.

'' ARTHUR Davis.

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